Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private First Class Ernest William Prussman was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 8, 1944 near Les Coates, Brittany, France during World War II. At the time he was serving with 13th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division. Prussman was 22 years old.
Prussman was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on April 19, 1945 — presented by Major General Sherman A. Miles to his mother, Mrs. Herbert Prussman, at Massachusetts' Patriot Day ceremonies on Boston Common.
Prussman was born on September 15, 1921 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brighton, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He is buried at A.B.M.C. Brittany Cemetery in St. James, France.
Prussman is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 September 1944, near Les Coates, Brittany, France. When the advance of flank companies of two battalions was halted by intense enemy mortar, machine-gun, and sniper fire from a fortified position on his left, Pfc. Prussman maneuvered his squad to assault the enemy fortifications. Hurdling a hedgerow, he came upon two enemy riflemen whom he disarmed. After leading his squad across an open field to the next hedgerow, he advanced to a machine-gun position, destroyed the gun, captured its crew and two riflemen. Again advancing ahead of his squad in the assault, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rifleman, but as he fell to the ground he threw a hand grenade, killing his opponent. His superb leadership and heroic action at the cost of his life so demoralized the enemy that resistance at this point collapsed, permitting the two battalions to continue their advance.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Again advancing ahead of his squad in the assault, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rifleman, but as he fell to the ground he threw a hand grenade, killing his opponent.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 8, 1944).
- Age at death: 22
- Resting place: A.B.M.C. Brittany Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- September 15, 1921Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
- September 8, 1944Act of valor — near Les Coates, Brittany, FranceAge 22. 13th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- April 19, 1945Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyPresented by Major General Sherman A. Miles to his mother, Mrs. Herbert Prussman, at Massachusetts' Patriot Day ceremonies on Boston Common.
- Resting placeA.B.M.C. Brittany CemeterySt. James
Biography
Ernest William Prussman (September 15, 1921 – September 8, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Ernest W. Prussman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
